From staff reports

OLIN — Carson’s baseball team rode Maddux Holshouser to a 2-1 win at North Iredell on Thursday in the North Piedmont Conference opener for both teams.

Holshouser, who is signing with UNC Greensboro,  struck out nine while allowing two walks and only one hit.

Carson’s offense struggled against North Iredell hurler David Highman, but  the Cougars scratched out two runs in the third with two errors, a passed ball, a wild pitch and a bunt single by Brycen Holshouser.

Freshman C.P. Pyle had a triple for the Cougars, who managed only three hits.

It was the fifth straight win for the Cougars (6-3).

Carson goes to East Rowan tonight, with Owen White (3-0) expected to pitch for the Cougars.

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TYRO — South Rowan lost to West Davidson, 9-3, in Central Carolina Conference play on Thursday.

The bright spot for  South was a homer by Andrew Jones, but one bad inning did in the Raiders (2-6). South has lost six in a row and takes on West Davidson again tonight.

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SALISBURY — Salisbury got six strong innings  on the mound from Jack Fisher and three RBIs from Blaine Shellhorn to beat Oak Grove, 4-1, on Thursday in a game moved to Salisbury.

Shellhorn broke a 1-all tie with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. His two-run single in the sixth provided insurance.

Fisher struck out eight while allowing five hits and three walks. Bo Rusher pitched the seventh for a save.

Tanner Tesh had three hits and pitched a complete game for Oak Grove, coached by former Catawba star David Thomas.

Salisbury (9-1, 8-1 CCC) has won five straight and is at Oak Grove tonight.

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SPENCER — In a wild non-conference game, West Rowan  emphatically ended a three-game skid by pounding North Rowan, 20-6, in six innings on Thursday.

Olen Stamper and Mo Salazar drove in four runs apiece for the Falcons. Payne Stolsworth and Logan Sproul had two RBIs each.  Mykal Berger had two hits.

West (3-5) scored seven in the first, seven in the fourth and six in the sixth.

Scout Nichols was the winning pitcher. He got relief help from Daniel Sell and Cullen Davis.

Bryan Lawson started and took the loss for North (3-5).

Johnathan Spry had two hits, while McGwire Smith, Kobe Dupree and Jordan Goodine had RBIs.

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KANNAPOLIS — In South Piedmont Conference play on Thursday, Stephen Kutay pitched Central Cabarrus to a 2-1 win against A.L. Brown.

Kutay struck out four and allowed seven hits.

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CONCORD — Robinson rolled against Northwest Cabarrus in SPC play on Thursday.

Cole Petcher drove in both runs for the Trojans.

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In Central Piedmont Conference action on Thursday, R.J. Reynolds beat Davie County, 3-1, in Mocksville.

Prep soccer

LANDIS — Madison Henry scored the goal,  as South Rowan logged a 1-0 win against Central Davidson on Thursday in Central Carolina Conference soccer.

Taylor Mauldin had the assist for South (8-2, 7-1 CCC).

Holiday Harvey keyed the defense. Michelle Rivera had the shutout in goal.

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CHINA GROVE — Carson won against North Rowan, 19-0, on Thursday.

Getting goals for the Cougars were  Gracie Thomason, Hannah Smith, Kate Carter, Taylor Conrad, Lindsey Conrad,  Areli Vargas, Sydney Borst, Sarah Christy, Sarah Musselwhite, Emily Sloop and Estefani Perez.

Prep softball

LANDIS — South Rowan got a grand slam from Mataya Reynolds and 14 strikeouts from Whitley Arnott and pounded Central Davidson, 9-1, in Central Carolina Conference softball on Thursday.

Courtney Mullins had a career game with four hits for the Raiders, and Brooke  Lowery and Reynolds had two each.

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OLIN — Carson opened North Piedmont Conference play with a 3-0 win at North Iredell on Thursday.

Rylie Stewart pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 13.

Katie Jewell, Haley Howerton and Stewart drove in runs in the third inning for the Cougars (5-1, 1-0).

Stewart had a triple.Kary Hales and Liza Simmerson had doubles. Simmerson had three hits.

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MOCKSVILLE — Davie County outscored Montour (Pa.) on Thursday, 8-7.

The hard-hitting War Eagles got two hits each from Sierra Ferguson, Emma Patterson and Bridgett Tierney.

Prep tennis

SALISBURY — Roarke Burton, Jander Rodas, Adam Drye, Sean Archer and Juan Salazar won in singles as Salisbury stayed undefeated with an 8-1 Central Carolina Conference win against West Davidson on Thursday.

The Hornets (10-0) swept doubles with Drye/Burton, Ethan McGee/Archer and Rodas/Salazar getting wins.

West Davidson’s Hugh Bennett won at No.1 singles.

Ranked No. 1 in 2A, Salisbury takes on Lexington on Monday.

Prep golf

SALISBURY — In Central Carolina Conference golf at the Country Club of Salisbury on Thursday, Oak Grove shot 169 to win.

Alex Antosek shot 37 to lead Salisbury, while Hank Robins shot 40 and Will Fowler shot 45.

Andrew Coward’s 37 led South Rowan. Next for South was Jayson James at 46.

Antosek, Coward and Ledford’s Tyler Partee shared medalist honors.

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STATESVILLE — In North Piedmont Conference golf at Twin Oaks on Thursday, East Rowan shot 153 to win another match.

William Garland shot 37 to lead the Mustangs, with Bryson Sprinkle at 38, Austin Miller at 39, and Colby Patterson at 39.

Zain Tucker shot 37 to lead Carson and was co-medalist with Garland.

Dalton Kepley shot 45 to lead West Rowan.

College softball

MISENHEIMER — Center fielder Chandler Walker became the all-time leader in hits for Pfeiffer softball on Thursday during a sweep of Brevard.

Walker has 180 hits and broke the previous mark of 179 that was held by Hall of Famer Dacia Ijames.

Pfeiffer is 22-2 and has won 11 in a row.

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NEWBERRY – Freshman McKenzie Barneycastle (Davie County) has been named by HERO Sports as the freshman with the best start in Division II.

The outfielder is hitting .576 in Newberry’s sixteen games.

  

College tennis

SALISBURY —  Catawba fell to visiting Newberry in both men’s and women’s South Atlantic Conference tennis action on Thursday afternoon at the Johnson Tennis Center.

Newberry took an 8-1 decision on the men’s side, while the women claimed a 7-2 win.

Catawba’s men are 2-7 and 0-4 in the SAC, while the Catawba women are 3-7 and 0-4.

College golf

Livingstone had six of the top 10 golfers and won  J.C. Smith’s Spring Classic.

Salisbury Academy

  Salisbury Academy shot 189 and won a four-team  middle school match on Thursday that was hosted by Concordia (199) at Rock Barn.

The Jaguars were led by medalist Harrison Smith with 42. He was followed by Gigi Nagy (46), Warren Fesperman (49) and Ethan Ott (52).

SA improved to 9-0.

MLB

Will Albertson (Catawba) had a chance to pinch hit in a major league Spring Training game on Wednesday night and singled for the San Francisco Giants against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Another former Catawba player, Jerry Sands, is also in camp with the Giants. Sands had a walk-off  hit on Thursday.

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Whit Merrifield (Davie County) is having a fantastic Spring Training with the Kansas City Royals.

Through Wednesday’s games, he was batting .564 with four home runs.

Local golf

The Golf Association of Rowan Seniors (GARS), associated with the Rufty-Holmes Center, is currently inviting new members — men and women.

The GARS play golf every Monday, and every other Thursday, throughout the year at 11 different regional courses, including most in Rowan County.

There is also a meeting on the first Monday of each month at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center at 8:30 a.m.

Benefits include reduced green fees and tournament prizes, social events and weekly interactions with the current 120 members.

Anyone 55 years or older is eligible and annual membership dues are $40. Current GARS contacts are Phil Cauble (704-213-0646) and Ray Pope (910-818-4999).

Hurley YMCA

Registration for spring soccer and flag football for Pre-K through eighth grade lasts until April 3.

Register at the J.F. Hurley YMCA or online at www.rowanymca.org For more information contact Jesse Byrd at 704-636-0111 or Jbyrd@rowanymca.org.

Heart Fair fundraiser

A Healthy Heart Fair fundraiser organized by North Rowan and Catawba’s Henderson Lentz will take place at North Rowan High on Saturday, March 24.

Concessions will be sold. Admission is $5 per person.

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6 p.m.  3-point contest (pre-registration required)

6:15 Girls seniors vs. alumni game (elementary school girls play at halftime)

7 p.m. Slam Dunk Contest

7:15 All-Star Cheer Performance

7:30 Boys senior all-star game (elementary school boys play at halftime)